Dirt could start moving in March on $14 million worth of modernization and upgrades at East Union High.

The Manteca Unified school board has adopted a plan that includes a schematic for future work that will be done at East Union High as money becomes available.

The work targeted includes:

building a new ag center covering 7,500 square feet of shop space and classrooms as well as modernization of existing shop and classroom building.

a reconfigured and expanded student parking lot and vehicular access.

a new campus fire alarm system.

campus-wide classroom improvements.

campus-wide American with Disabilities Act access improvements.

theater heating and air, flooring, and electrical upgrades.

new bus drop off and entry from Northgate Drive between a PE field and tennis courts. It would connect with eastern end of the existing parking lot where it meets the main gym.

The schematic for the campus also calls for staging for future upgrades and planning for classrooms to ultimately take the campus enrollment to 2,200 including:

future athletic core north of the tennis courts.

future building in the grassy area in front of the administration complex.

future classroom building on the north side of the campus between the ag center and student parking.

future student plaza.

future consolidation of administration and student services.

future library.

“We only have $14 million to spend but there are $40 million in needs at East Union High,” noted Facilities & Operations Director Aaron Bowers of the 53-year-old campus.

The board has earmarked $13 million in Measure G work funds for health, safety, and modernization. It is being wedded with a $1.1 million Career and Technical Education grant from the state that is allowing construction of the new ag education complex. 

East Union, just like Manteca and Sierra, is targeted to have it’s capacity increased to 2,200 students. Based on today’s enrollments at the three campuses such a strategy would effectively add the equivalent of a fourth high school within the city limits of Manteca.

The strategy is designed to leverage maximum effectiveness from limited funding sources to build classrooms and support facilities to accommodate growth.

One funding source — state money for new school construction — has already been cut off for schools throughout California.

A new school to serve 1,800 students would cost $120 million to $140 million to build. The board’s strategy is designed to assure all three existing high schools within the Manteca city limits will ultimately absorb growth as a whole instead of it being concentrated with additions to one particular campus.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com